Does a laser or IPL room need to be body-protected?

Usually, yes. Lasers, IPL, diathermy and electrosurgery are mains-powered equipment applied to the patient, which is the test for a patient area. Skin cancer procedure rooms, laser and IPL treatment rooms and cosmetic rooms using energy devices are commonly classified body-protected.

A consult room used only for skin checks, with no mains equipment applied to the patient, often is not. The practice decides room by room, with its clinicians, the equipment suppliers and the electrician.

Lasers also tend to need their own dedicated circuit. Get each device’s spec sheet before the electrical design is finished, not after.